07. Verb Conjugation System (Sistema de ConjugaciΓ³n Verbal)
07. Verb Conjugation System (Sistema de ConjugaciΓ³n Verbal)¶
Learning Objectives¶
- Understand the tense and mood system of Spanish verbs
- Acquire classification and memorization strategies for irregular verbs
- Master stem-changing verb rules
- Understand reflexive verb conjugation
- Learn compound tense formation and usage
Table of Contents¶
- Verb System Overview
- Stem-Changing Verbs
- Irregular Verb Patterns
- Reflexive Verbs
- Compound Tenses
- Practice Exercises
1. Verb System Overview¶
1.1 Verb Classification¶
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Spanish Verb Classification β
β β
β -AR verbs (Group 1) -ER verbs (Group 2) -IR verbs (Group 3)β
β hablar (to speak) comer (to eat) vivir (to live) β
β trabajar (to work) beber (to drink) escribir (to write)β
β estudiar (to study) leer (to read) partir (to leave) β
β β
β Most common Second Third β
β (about 75%) (about 15%) (about 10%) β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
1.2 Tense System Summary¶
Indicative (Indicativo):
ββββββββββββββββββββββ¬βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Tense β Example (hablar) β
ββββββββββββββββββββββΌβββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β Present β hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, hablΓ‘is, hablan β
β Present Progressiveβ estoy hablando β
β Preterite β hablΓ©, hablaste, hablΓ³, hablamos, hablasteis, hablaron β
β Imperfect β hablaba, hablabas, hablaba, hablΓ‘bamos... β
β Future β hablarΓ©, hablarΓ‘s, hablarΓ‘, hablaremos... β
β Conditional β hablarΓa, hablarΓas, hablarΓa, hablarΓamos...β
β Present Perfect β he hablado, has hablado, ha hablado... β
β Past Perfect β habΓa hablado, habΓas hablado... β
ββββββββββββββββββββββ΄βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Subjunctive (Subjuntivo):
ββββββββββββββββββββββ¬βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Tense β Example (hablar) β
ββββββββββββββββββββββΌβββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β Present β hable, hables, hable, hablemos, hablΓ©is, hablen β
β Past β hablara/hablase, hablaras, hablara... β
β Present Perfect β haya hablado, hayas hablado... β
β Past Perfect β hubiera/hubiese hablado... β
ββββββββββββββββββββββ΄βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Imperative (Imperativo):
ββββββββββββββββββββββ¬βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Form β Example (hablar) β
ββββββββββββββββββββββΌβββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β Affirmative β habla (tΓΊ), hable (usted), hablad (vosotros)β
β Negative β no hables, no hable, no hablΓ©is β
ββββββββββββββββββββββ΄βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
1.3 Regular Verb Conjugation Chart¶
Present Tense Regular Conjugation:
ββββββββββ¬βββββββββββ¬βββββββββββ¬βββββββββββ
β Person β -AR β -ER β -IR β
β β (hablar) β (comer) β (vivir) β
ββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββ€
β yo β habl-o β com-o β viv-o β
β tΓΊ β habl-as β com-es β viv-es β
β Γ©l β habl-a β com-e β viv-e β
β nosotrosβ habl-amosβ com-emos β viv-imos β
β vosotrosβ habl-Γ‘isβ com-Γ©is β viv-Γs β
β ellos β habl-an β com-en β viv-en β
ββββββββββ΄βββββββββββ΄βββββββββββ΄βββββββββββ
Preterite Regular Conjugation:
ββββββββββ¬βββββββββββ¬βββββββββββ¬βββββββββββ
β Person β -AR β -ER β -IR β
ββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββ€
β yo β habl-Γ© β com-Γ β viv-Γ β
β tΓΊ β habl-asteβ com-iste β viv-iste β
β Γ©l β habl-Γ³ β com-iΓ³ β viv-iΓ³ β
β nosotrosβ habl-amosβ com-imos β viv-imos β
β vosotrosβ habl-asteisβcom-isteisβviv-isteisβ
β ellos β habl-aronβ com-ieronβ viv-ieronβ
ββββββββββ΄βββββββββββ΄βββββββββββ΄βββββββββββ
2. Stem-Changing Verbs¶
2.1 e β ie Change¶
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β e β ie Stem Change β
β β
β pensar (to think) querer (to want) sentir (to feel) β
β pienso quiero siento β
β piensas quieres sientes β
β piensa quiere siente β
β pensamos queremos sentimos β No change β
β pensΓ‘is querΓ©is sentΓs β No change β
β piensan quieren sienten β
β β
β β» nosotros, vosotros do not change (boot verb) β
β β
β Other verbs: β
β cerrar (to close), empezar (to begin), entender (to understand),β
β perder (to lose), preferir (to prefer), mentir (to lie) β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
2.2 o β ue Change¶
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β o β ue Stem Change β
β β
β poder (to be able) volver (to return) dormir (to sleep) β
β puedo vuelvo duermo β
β puedes vuelves duermes β
β puede vuelve duerme β
β podemos volvemos dormimos β No change β
β podΓ©is volvΓ©is dormΓs β No change β
β pueden vuelven duermen β
β β
β Other verbs: β
β encontrar (to find), contar (to count), costar (to cost), β
β mostrar (to show), recordar (to remember), morir (to die) β
β β
β Special: jugar (to play) β juego, juegas... (u β ue) β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
2.3 e β i Change¶
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β e β i Stem Change (-IR verbs only) β
β β
β pedir (to request) servir (to serve) repetir (to repeat) β
β pido sirvo repito β
β pides sirves repites β
β pide sirve repite β
β pedimos servimos repetimos β No change β
β pedΓs servΓs repetΓs β No change β
β piden sirven repiten β
β β
β β» In preterite, 3rd person also changes: β
β pedir β pidiΓ³, pidieron β
β servir β sirviΓ³, sirvieron β
β β
β Other verbs: β
β seguir (to follow), conseguir (to get), vestir (to dress) β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
2.4 Stem Change Summary Table¶
ββββββββββββ¬βββββββββββ¬βββββββββββ¬βββββββββββ¬βββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Change β yo β tΓΊ β nos. β Representative Verbs β
ββββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β e β ie β pienso β piensas β pensamos β pensar, querer, β
β β β β β entender, sentir β
ββββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β o β ue β puedo β puedes β podemos β poder, volver, β
β β β β β dormir, encontrar β
ββββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β e β i β pido β pides β pedimos β pedir, servir, β
β (-IR only)β β β β seguir, repetir β
ββββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββΌβββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β u β ue β juego β juegas β jugamos β jugar β
ββββββββββββ΄βββββββββββ΄βββββββββββ΄βββββββββββ΄βββββββββββββββββββββββ
3. Irregular Verb Patterns¶
3.1 First Person Singular Irregular (-go form)¶
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β yo form -go Irregular β
β β
β Verb yo form Rest is regular β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β tener tengo tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenΓ©is, tienenβ
β venir vengo vienes, viene, venimos, venΓs, vienenβ
β poner pongo pones, pone, ponemos, ponΓ©is, ponen β
β salir salgo sales, sale, salimos, salΓs, salen β
β hacer hago haces, hace, hacemos, hacΓ©is, hacen β
β decir digo dices, dice, decimos, decΓs, dicen β
β traer traigo traes, trae, traemos, traΓ©is, traen β
β caer caigo caes, cae, caemos, caΓ©is, caen β
β oΓr oigo oyes, oye, oΓmos, oΓs, oyen β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
3.2 Completely Irregular Verbs¶
ser (to be):
ββββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ
β Tense β yo β tΓΊ β Γ©l β nos. β ellos β
ββββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββ€
β Presentβ soy β eres β es β somos β son β
β Preteriteβ fui β fuiste β fue β fuimos β fueron β
β Imperfectβ era β eras β era β Γ©ramos β eran β
ββββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ
ir (to go):
ββββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ
β Tense β yo β tΓΊ β Γ©l β nos. β ellos β
ββββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββ€
β Presentβ voy β vas β va β vamos β van β
β Preteriteβ fui β fuiste β fue β fuimos β fueron β
β Imperfectβ iba β ibas β iba β Γbamos β iban β
ββββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ
β» ser and ir have identical preterite forms!
estar (to be):
ββββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ¬βββββββββ
β Tense β yo β tΓΊ β Γ©l β nos. β ellos β
ββββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββΌβββββββββ€
β Presentβ estoy β estΓ‘s β estΓ‘ β estamosβ estΓ‘n β
β Preteriteβestuveβestuvisteβestuvo βestuvimosβestuvieronβ
ββββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ΄βββββββββ
3.3 Preterite Stem Irregular¶
ββββββββββββ¬βββββββββββββ¬ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Verb β Irregular β Conjugation (common endings: -e, -iste,β
β β Stem β -o, -imos, -isteis, -ieron/-eron)β
ββββββββββββΌβββββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β tener β tuv- β tuve, tuviste, tuvo, tuvimos... β
β estar β estuv- β estuve, estuviste, estuvo... β
β poder β pud- β pude, pudiste, pudo... β
β poner β pus- β puse, pusiste, puso... β
β saber β sup- β supe, supiste, supo... β
β hacer β hic-/hiz- β hice, hiciste, hizo... β
β querer β quis- β quise, quisiste, quiso... β
β venir β vin- β vine, viniste, vino... β
β decir β dij- β dije, dijiste, dijo, dijimos, dijeron β
β traer β traj- β traje, trajiste, trajo, trajimos... β
ββββββββββββ΄βββββββββββββ΄ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β» -j- stem verbs have -eron in 3rd person plural (dijeron, trajeron)
3.4 Future/Conditional Irregular¶
ββββββββββββ¬βββββββββββββ¬ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Verb β Irregular β Future (conditional uses same stem) β
β β Stem β β
ββββββββββββΌβββββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β tener β tendr- β tendrΓ©, tendrΓ‘s, tendrΓ‘... β
β venir β vendr- β vendrΓ©, vendrΓ‘s, vendrΓ‘... β
β poner β pondr- β pondrΓ©, pondrΓ‘s, pondrΓ‘... β
β salir β saldr- β saldrΓ©, saldrΓ‘s, saldrΓ‘... β
β poder β podr- β podrΓ©, podrΓ‘s, podrΓ‘... β
β saber β sabr- β sabrΓ©, sabrΓ‘s, sabrΓ‘... β
β querer β querr- β querrΓ©, querrΓ‘s, querrΓ‘... β
β hacer β har- β harΓ©, harΓ‘s, harΓ‘... β
β decir β dir- β dirΓ©, dirΓ‘s, dirΓ‘... β
β haber β habr- β habrΓ©, habrΓ‘s, habrΓ‘... β
ββββββββββββ΄βββββββββββββ΄ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
4. Reflexive Verbs¶
4.1 Reflexive Pronouns¶
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Reflexive Pronouns β
β β
β Subject Reflexive Example (lavarse - to wash) β
β Pronoun β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β yo me me lavo (I wash myself) β
β tΓΊ te te lavas (you wash yourself) β
β Γ©l/ella/Ud. se se lava (he washes himself) β
β nosotros nos nos lavamos (we wash ourselves) β
β vosotros os os lavΓ‘is (you wash yourselves) β
β ellos/Uds. se se lavan (they wash themselves) β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
4.2 Types of Reflexive Verbs¶
1. Daily routines:
levantarse (to get up) β Me levanto a las 7.
acostarse (to go to bed) β Se acuesta tarde.
ducharse (to shower) β Nos duchamos por la maΓ±ana.
vestirse (to get dressed) β Te vistes rΓ‘pido.
peinarse (to comb hair) β Me peino antes de salir.
afeitarse (to shave) β Se afeita todos los dΓas.
2. Emotion/state changes:
alegrarse (to be happy) β Me alegro de verte.
enojarse (to get angry) β Se enoja fΓ‘cilmente.
aburrirse (to get bored) β Nos aburrimos en clase.
preocuparse (to worry) β No te preocupes.
sentirse (to feel) β Me siento bien.
3. Reciprocal actions (each other):
conocerse (to know each other) β Nos conocemos desde niΓ±os.
ayudarse (to help each other) β Se ayudan mucho.
quererse (to love each other) β Se quieren mucho.
4.3 Reflexive vs Non-Reflexive¶
Non-reflexive (to others) Reflexive (to oneself)
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
lavar (to wash) lavarse (to wash oneself)
Lavo el coche. Me lavo las manos.
(I wash the car) (I wash my hands)
llamar (to call) llamarse (to be named)
Llamo a MarΓa. Me llamo Juan.
(I call MarΓa) (My name is Juan)
despertar (to wake someone) despertarse (to wake up)
Despierto a mi hijo. Me despierto temprano.
(I wake my son) (I wake up early)
ir (to go) irse (to leave)
Voy al trabajo. Me voy ahora.
(I go to work) (I'm leaving now)
5. Compound Tenses¶
5.1 haber Conjugation¶
ββββββββββ¬βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Tense β haber conjugation β
ββββββββββΌβββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β Presentβ he, has, ha, hemos, habΓ©is, han β
β Imperfectβ habΓa, habΓas, habΓa, habΓamos, habΓais, habΓan β
β Subjunctiveβ haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayΓ‘is, hayan β
β Past Subjβ hubiera, hubieras, hubiera, hubiΓ©ramos, hubierais... β
ββββββββββ΄βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Past Participle Formation:
-AR β -ado: hablar β hablado
-ER β -ido: comer β comido
-IR β -ido: vivir β vivido
Irregular Past Participles:
hacer β hecho poner β puesto ver β visto
escribir β escrito abrir β abierto decir β dicho
volver β vuelto morir β muerto romper β roto
5.2 Compound Tense Formation¶
Present Perfect (PretΓ©rito Perfecto):
haber (present) + past participle
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
He hablado con Γ©l. (I have spoken with him.)
ΒΏHas comido? (Have you eaten?)
Han llegado tarde. (They have arrived late.)
Past Perfect (Pluscuamperfecto):
haber (imperfect) + past participle
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
HabΓa terminado cuando llegaste.
(I had finished when you arrived.)
Future Perfect (Futuro Perfecto):
haber (future) + past participle
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
HabrΓ‘ llegado para las cinco.
(He will have arrived by five o'clock.)
Conditional Perfect (Condicional Perfecto):
haber (conditional) + past participle
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
HabrΓa ido si hubiera sabido.
(I would have gone if I had known.)
Present Perfect Subjunctive:
haber (present subjunctive) + past participle
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Espero que haya llegado bien.
(I hope he has arrived safely.)
Past Perfect Subjunctive:
haber (past subjunctive) + past participle
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Si hubiera sabido, habrΓa venido.
(If I had known, I would have come.)
6. Practice Exercises¶
Exercise 1: Stem-Changing Verb Conjugation¶
Fill in the blanks.
1. pensar (yo, present) β _______
β pienso
2. poder (ellos, present) β _______
β pueden
3. pedir (tΓΊ, present) β _______
β pides
4. dormir (nosotros, present) β _______
β dormimos (no change)
5. querer (ella, present) β _______
β quiere
Exercise 2: Irregular Preterite Conjugation¶
Convert to preterite tense.
1. tener (yo) β _______
β tuve
2. hacer (Γ©l) β _______
β hizo
3. ir (nosotros) β _______
β fuimos
4. decir (ellos) β _______
β dijeron
5. poder (tΓΊ) β _______
β pudiste
Exercise 3: Reflexive Verb Sentence Completion¶
Fill in the appropriate reflexive pronoun.
1. Yo _______ levanto a las siete.
β me
2. Ella _______ ducha por la maΓ±ana.
β se
3. Nosotros _______ acostamos tarde.
β nos
4. ΒΏTΓΊ _______ sientes bien?
β te
5. Ellos _______ conocieron en Madrid.
β se
Exercise 4: Compound Tense Formation¶
Convert to the given tense.
1. hablar (yo, present perfect) β _______
β he hablado
2. escribir (ella, past perfect) β _______
β habΓa escrito
3. ver (nosotros, present perfect) β _______
β hemos visto
4. hacer (tΓΊ, present perfect subjunctive) β _______
β hayas hecho
Next Steps¶
References¶
- Real Academia EspaΓ±ola (RAE) - ConjugaciΓ³n
- 501 Spanish Verbs (Barron's)
- SpanishDict Conjugation Tool